Sometimes, certain laws in a state can make you wonder whether they are fact or fiction. 

Some rather bizarre “laws” are nothing more than a myth, where others are clearly defined. 

Like every other state, Connecticut has some strange laws.

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One quite famous strange “law” of Connecticut regards pickles. 

Many online articles discuss a law in Connecticut stating that in order for a pickle to be considered a pickle, it must bounce. 

The subject was investigated by many sources, including The Connecticut State Library and NBC CT. 

Both point to the same article written in the Hartford Courant in 1948 as the source of the myth, where two pickle packers found themselves in legal trouble for selling pickles “unfit for human consumption.” 

One strange Connecticut “law,” which is actually a myth, provides that pickles must bounce.  (iStock)

When the “putrid” pickles were being tested, the Food and Drug Commissioner of the time, Frederick Holbrook, stated that a good test to tell whether a pickle was good or not was to “drop it one foot” and see if it bounced. 

A bouncy pickle makes a good pickle. 

When these particular pickles were dropped, they did not bounce and instead splattered, though the test was not the reason for the legal trouble. There were many laboratory tests also conducted. 

Even though the pickle law is fictional, there are other strange laws in the state that are real. 

Read about a few below. 

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1. Restrictions on silly string
2. Don’t release balloons
3. Limitations on arcade games

1. Restrictions on silly string

Minors aren’t trusted with silly string in Meriden, Connecticut. 

Silly string is often used in a celebratory fashion, but it can quickly cause a big mess. 

In the city of Meriden, silly string cannot be sold to minors unless they are with a parent or legal guardian. 

The specifics are laid out in Chapter 175 of Meriden law. 

Children of Meriden, Connecticut are not allowed to be sold silly string without a parent.  (iStock)

If a store is selling silly string or products similar to it, it must be locked up, held behind the sales counter or “in some other manner which restricts public access to such products.” 

The fine for breaking this law is $99. 

2. Don’t release balloons

There are many occasions where balloons are purposefully released into the air. Many states have cracked down on this practice and have created laws limiting the release of balloons, or banning the act completely. 

To date, there are ten states, including Connecticut, that have some sort of law regarding the release of balloons into the air, according to CBS News. Rhode Island, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware are others. 

Connecticut General Statute Section 26-25C details this law. 

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The law prevents the release of ten or more “helium or lighter-than-air gas balloons” into the atmosphere during a 24-hour period. 

Though the release of balloons may seem harmless, and a law against it could seem rather strange, celebratory balloons could pose a danger to wildlife.

Animals could mistake balloons for food, causing harm or, in certain cases, death, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service notes on its website. 

The strings of balloons can also be dangerous for animals, as they could get tangled up in them, the federal agency additionally notes. 

Ten or more balloons may not be released into the air in Connecticut.  (iStock)

3. Limitations on arcade games

Did you know that Rocky Hill, Connecticut, has a law involving arcade games? 

The details are laid out in Chapter 81 of the town’s legislation. 

Described in the law is the regulation that no “more than four mechanical amusement devices” are allowed. 

As part of the law, individuals, partnerships, corporations, clubs or associations can not “have in any place within a permanent structure open to the general public or occupied by any club or association any mechanical amusement device without first having obtained a license therefor.”

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“Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A, no person shall have in any place within a permanent structure open to the general public more than four mechanical amusement devices,” the law also states. 

Those who break this law face a fine of $25 for each day of violation. 

South Carolina is another state that has a strange arcade law. Its law is specific to pinball. Those under the age of 18 are not allowed to play the popular game.

A home in eastern Maine was destroyed by a fire that started with a propane gas explosion on Thursday morning.

The Maine Fire Marshals Office said it was called to an address on Milford Road in Grand Lake Stream around 10:30 a.m. Thursday for a single-family home that had been destroyed by fire.

They said the fire started outside the home, where a delivery driver from VL Tammaro was filling residential propane tanks. A malfunction in the filling process caused the release of gas, and an explosion occurred when the propane was ignited by an unknown source.

The driver of the propane truck sustained second degree burns and was treated and released from a local hospital.

The owner of the property was home at the time but was not injured.

The fire marshals office was assisted on scene by the Maine Fuel Board.

Grand Lake Stream, which only has about 125 residents, is located in far eastern Maine not far from the Canadian border.

Brace yourself! It’s back to winter in Massachusetts with snow in Friday’s forecast and a deep freeze this weekend.

Friday will be mostly cloudy and cool, but temperatures will drop through the afternoon and evening, increasing the chance for snowfall.

Bitter cold weather will follow the snow with arctic air gripping the region on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Latest snowfall timeline

A few ocean-effect sprinkles and flurries are possible during the day, although impacts will be low with no more than a patchy coating, Boston 25 Meteorologist Shiri Spear said in her latest forecast.

Steadier rain and snow will fill in around 4 p.m. and impact the evening commute.

“As things cool down, the chance for snow is going to grow and grow during the late afternoon and evening hours,” Spear said. “Some of the worse travel conditions are probably going to be during the evening.”

The snowfall should wrap up by midnight.

An isolated snow shower or flurries are still possible on Saturday, but most areas will be dry with more clouds than sunshine.

Expected snow totals

A widespread coating to an inch of snow is likely for much of Massachusetts.

The “jackpot” areas, including northeastern Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley, MetroWest, and interior southeastern Massachusetts could see 1-2 inches.

“Some spots could locally go up to 3 inches,” Spear said.

Cape Cod and the Islands might be too mild for sticking, but flakes will be flying.

Arctic air arrives

Frigid temperatures with highs in the upper 20s and low 30s are on tap for Saturday.

Sunday will bring freezing sunshine with temperatures in the teens and 20s.

For the latest on the forecast, visit the Boston 25 Weather page.

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